Description

In Module 5, we will examine how we can engage hyperlinked communities of all kinds.

Peter Block writes in Community: The Structure of Belonging, “Communities are human systems given form by conversations that build relatedness.” Building a relationship between the librarian and the user is a step toward establishing the bonds of community. That’s why we can’t just hide behind our reference desks or our virtual lecterns and hope that students or users listen but leave us alone. Active engagement begins here. If we can articulate our purpose and goals well and use it as a basis for building community, we are on the right track.

We’ll explore examples of hyperlinked community engagement via technology tools, place-based meet ups, and engagement strategies designed to enlighten and entertain. Don’t miss the video featuring Monica Harris, at that time from Oak Park Public Library, discussing “The Idea Box” and more.

Lecture Recording

• View Lecture
• Download lecture slides

Things to Read

• Bhaskar, N, (2016). In the age of the algorithm, the human gatekeeper is back.
• Smith. C. (2017). Madison’s Library Takeover
• Havens, A. (2013). From community to technology…and back again: Part 1.
• Havens, A., & Storey, T. (2013). From community to technology…and back again: Part 2, The networked library.
• Boyd, D. (2016). What World Are We Building?
• Stolls, A. (2015). The Healing power of libraries.
• Baute, N. (2013). How a modern library keeps mothers healthy in rural Ghana
• Casden, J., Nutt, M., Lown, C., & Davidson, B. (2013). My #HuntLibrary: Using Instagram to crowdsource the story of a new library.
• McDonnell, A. & Mollet, A. (2014). Five ways libraries are using Instagram to share collections and draw public interest.
• Schmidt, A. (2016). Asking the Right Questions.
• Oak Park Public Library (2017). The Idea Box.
• West, J. (2014). 21st century digital divide.
• Pewrainangi, S. (2014). A beautiful obsession.
• Stephens, M. (2017) Telling stories.
• Stephens, M. (2017) Libraries in Balance.
• Dixon, J. (2017) Convening community conversation | Programming.

Things to View

• Bergholz, K. (2012). IdeaBox.
• Oak Park Public Library. (n.d.). IdeaBox Collections.
• AskACPL. (2012). Conversation series: Eli Neiburger, part 3.
• Canavesio, V. (2009). Biblioburro – the donkey library.
• Burnett, L. (2011). Save the Troy Library “Adventures in reverse psychology”.

Things to Explore

• Anderson, N. (2018). Curated resources on diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and equity for libraries
• Auckland Humanity Project. (n.d.).
• TED. (2009). Seth Godin: The tribes we lead.
• OCLC (2015). The Library in the Life of the User.
• Gordon, M. (2010). Library offers ‘digital sandbox’ for parents.
• Darien Library. (n.d.). Facebook.
• ALA. (2011). Ann Arbor District Library’s summer game demo.
• Landgraf, G. (2011). Summer reading levels up.
• Commons in a Box. (n.d.).
• CUNY Academic Commons. (n.d.).
• Zickuhr, K. (2013). Who’s not online and why.
• TEDxTalks. (2013). What to expect from libraries in the 21st century: Pam Sandlian Smith at TEDxMileHigh.
• Los Angeles Public Library. (2015). IMLS Focus: Engaging Communities.
• Stephens, M. (2014). Reaching all users. In The Heart of Librarianship, page 41.
• Heresay Storytelling (2018) http://heresaystorytelling.com/